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	Nalzaro: Has the Cardinal Lost Control of Fr. Ejares? By Bobby Nalzaro Sun.Star November 24, 2007 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/11/24/oped/bobby.nalzaro.saksi.html SO it is not true that the controversial priest, Fr Ben Ejares, has been temporarily stripped of his priestly functions, as claimed by our Church leaders. A report said Ejares celebrated mass at the parole and probation office inside the Palace of Justice last week in honor of an office employee who died of heart attack. I was also informed Ejares officiated mass in Tayud, Consolacion last Sunday. Ejares reportedly fled the country after he was accused by female students of Abellana National School of sexual misconduct during a Life in the Spirit seminar last year. A complaint for acts of lasciviousness was filed against him but prosecutors dismissed it. The complainants, with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, filed a motion for reconsideration. The city prosecutor is yet to resolve the motion. Earlier, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said he had prohibited Ejares from holding mass and hearing confession. Was the cardinal serious about it? Or did he say it just to impress on the public that the Church is doing something against Ejares? In the meting of disciplinary action, who will monitor if the sanctions against priests are being carried out? Why did Ejares suddenly "resurrect" and officiate a mass? Why did he defy the cardinal's order? This is a big insult on the cardinal because his order was not respected. Does this mean that the cardinal has already lost control of his flock? *** I don't consider as a big deal that nativity scene or "belen" displayed in front of a local movie house that had the faces of President Arroyo and former president Joseph Estrada replacing those of the Virgin Mary and Joseph. Vic Alvarez, the movie house owner, had a point. I agree with him that the "belen" portrayed peace and reconciliation. It showed forgiveness, considering that Arroyo pardoned Erap recently. And it's a form of freedom of expression. Well, Church leaders adversely reacted to it. But had the faces substituted been ordinary people, I am sure it won't catch their attention. But why make a big fuss out of it? In the first place, we don't know how the Virgin Mary and Joseph really looked. The images and paintings of our saints and even that of Jesus Christ are but products of the imagination of artists. We don't even know where Leonardo da Vinci based his portrayal of the face of Jesus Christ when he painted "The Last Supper." Had I been an artist, I would have come up with my own version of Jesus Christ. I would even have used Budoy as my model. Well, if Church officials don't want the faces of Arroyo and Estrada in that "belen," then why won't Mr. Alvarez replace them with the faces of Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Gov. Gwen Garcia? *** Congratulations to Sun.Star Cebu on its 25th anniversary. I am proud to be part of this prestigious community newspaper. To our readers, thank you for making me and Sun.Star Cebu a part of your day. Contact: bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com/ 0918-2198333
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